Shock abosrbing mechanisms



April 2, 1957 E. G. FoRssELL 2,787,384

SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISMS Filed Nov. 9, 1953y 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 2, 1957 E. G. FORSYSELL SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1953 Eric Q-Foz'sseZZ. y 7- SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISMS Eric G. Forssell, Kenmore, N. Y., assgnor to W. H. Miner, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,919

Claims. (Cl. 213-45) This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing mechanisms for railway draft riggings.

One object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanism comprising a yielding cushioning means composed of a plurality of rubber units and spacing plates, a casing containing the cushioning means, and a pressure transmitting plunger engaged with said cushioning means, wherein the parts of the mechanism are assembled within the casing which is open at its front end only, by passing the same into the casing through said open end, and the plunger, in addition to acting as means for transmitting the pressure to the cushioning means, serves to hold the parts assembled.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a mechanism as set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein the plunger which transmits the pressure to the cushioning means has lugs thereon which are engageable behind inturned flanges on the casing to anchor the plunger to the casing, and wherein the plunger is composed of two parts which are hinged together to swing toward each other, whereby the plunger is made laterally contractible to an extent to be readily passed into the casing and then attened out to engage the lugs thereof in back of the lianges of the casing.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my improved shock absorbing mechanism, the section corresponding substantially to the line 1 1 of Figure 3, showing the rubber units of the cushioning means in elevation.

Figure 2 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line 2 2 of Figure, 3, showing the rubber units of the cushioning means in plan.

Figure 3 is a front yend elevational View of Figure 1, looking from left to right in said ligure.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to Figure 2, of the front end portion of the mechanism, illustrating a step of the assembling operation.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View of one of the parts of the two-part plunger of my improved mechanism.y

My improved shock absorbing mechanism comprises broadly a casing A, a cushioning means comprising a plurality of rubber cushioning units B-B and spacing plates C-C within the casing, a pressure transmitting plunger D, and a follower plate E interposed between the cushioning means and the plunger.

The casing A is in the form of a substantially rectangular, boxlike member, open at the front end and having lengthwise extending, vertically spaced, top and bottom walls lll-10, lengthwise extending, laterally spaced side walls 11-11, and a vertical rear end wall 12. The side walls 11--11 are indented centrally, lengthnited States Patent O patented Apr. 2, 1957 ice wise of the mechanism, as indicated at 13-13, to provide lengthwise extending, interior guides 14-14 at opposite sides of the casing, and lengthwise extending, interior guide channels or grooves 15-15 above and below each guide 14. At the front end of the casing, the channels 15-15 are closed by inturned flanges 16--16 on the walls 11-11, forming stop shoulders. The front end portion of the casing A is of truly rectangular, exterior contour, the side walls of the same being thickened at the locality of the guides 14-14, as indicated at 17--17, to provide this rectangular contour.

The rubber cushioning units B-B and the spacing plates C-C, which together form the cushioning means, are enclosed within the casing A, the same being in column formation, with the units B-B arranged in sets of two, alternated with the spacing plates C-C. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, there are preferably twelve of such rubber units and tive spacing plates. Each unit B cornprises a rectangular rubber pad or mat 18, interposed between and bonded to a pair of metal plates 19-19. As shown, the rubber mat 18 of each unit has its peripheral edge indented.

The spacing plates C are all of similar design, each being of rectangular shape and having a rearwardly projecting, peripheral llange 20 overhanging the set of units B-B immediately to the rear thereof. These spacing plates have a sliding tit between the top and bottom Walls 10-16 and the guides 14-14 of the casing. The rearmost unit B of the column bears directly on the rear wall 12 of the casing A, as shown in Figures l and 2.

The plunger D is telescoped within the open front end of the casing A, the same being of substantially rectangular outline and comprising two relatively swingable sections 21-21 connected by a hinge pin 22. Each section 21 has a hollow, sleevelike, cylindrical projection 23 at its inner end, which forms a hinge eye member extending approximately half way of the vertical height of the section, and a curved seat 24 adjacent said cylindrical projection within which the cylindrical projection 23 of the other section of said plunger is engaged. The projection 23 and the seat 24 of each section 21 are spaced inwardly from the outer side thereof and the portion of the section 21 outwardly of the same presents a flat stop shoulder 25, which is engageable by the shoulder 25 of the other section to limit relative swinging movement of the sections when the rear end faces of the same are in transverse alignment. In other words, the stop shoulders 25-25 limit relative swinging movement of these sections when the same are flattened out. The two projections 23-23 have aligned openings 26-26 within which the connecting hinge pin 22 is engaged. Each section 21 of the plunger D has a pair of laterally, outwardly projecting lugs 27--27 located respectively at the upper and lower portions thereof, engaged within the channels 15-15 at the corresponding side of the casing and in back of the stop ilanges 16-16.

The follower plate E is interposed between the plunger D and the front unit B of the column of cushioning units and has flat bearing engagement with the rear end of the plunger to hold the sections thereof attened, as shown in Figure 2. The follower plate E is of rectangular outline, corresponds in size to the spacing plate C, and is slidingly guided between the top and bottom walls lil- 10 and the guides 14-14 of the casing A. The follower plate E is also provided with a rearwardly projecting flange 28 similar to the spacing plates C, which overhangs the front set of units B--B. The follower plate E has, at its front side, a pair of forwardly projecting, laterally spaced, cylindrical lugs 29-29 which are tapered, engaged in seats 30-30 of the section 21-21 of the plunger D, and at its central portion a filler projection 31 engaged between the sections 21--21 the sections 21--21 being recessed at their inner sides, as indicated at 32-32, to accommodate the projection 31. As shown, the filler projection 31 presents V-shaped sides and the recesses 32-32 of the sections 21-21 have correspondingly V- shaped inner sidewalls to interllt with-said filler projection.

In assembling the mechanism, the rubber units B-B and spacing plates C-C are placed within the casing A, through the open front end thereof, while the casing is stood in upright position on its closed end. The follower plate E is then placed on top of the column of units B-B and spacing plates C-C and forced downwardly, compressing the units B-B until it reaches the position shown in Figure 4. It is then locked in that position while the plunger is being assembled with the casing, the flange 28 of the follower plate E and the walls 10--10 of the casing A being provided with aligned key receiving openings 33-33 and 34--34, designed to receive relatively short keys, not shown, by which the follower plate E is locked in place. With the follower plate E thus locked in position, the plunger D, partly folded to contract the same, as shown in Figure 4, is inserted within thc casing A and then flattened out, as shown in Figure 2, to engage the lugs 27--27 and 27-27 in back of the flanges 16-16 and 16-16 at opposite sides of the casing A. After this has been done, the mechanism is compressed slightly by applying pressure to the plunger D, thereby easing up the load on the keys which lock the follower plate E in position. drawn to unlock the follower plate E and the mechanism is permitted to expand, thereby forcing the follower plate E against the plunger D and seating the lugs 29--29 of the follower plate E in the seats 30-30 of the plunger D and engaging the filler projection 31 of said follower plate between the sections 21-21 of said plunger, thereby maintaining the plunger in its expanded condition. In the completely assembled condition of the mechanism, the column of rubber cushioning units is preferably under a predetermined amount of intial compression, thus at all times holding the follower plate E pressed against the plunger D and locking the latter in its expanded state.

In absorbing shocks, the plunger D of my improved mechanism is forced inwardly of the casing, resisted by the rubber cushioning units B--B, and when the actuating force is reduced, the parts are returned to the normal full release position shown in Figures l and 2 by the expansive action of the rubber cushioning units BB.

l claim:

1. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing open at one end and having interior stop shoulders at said open end at opposite sides of the same; of cushioning means within the casing; a two-part, lengthwise divided, actuating plunger loosely tted in the open end of the casing, the parts of said plunger being hingedly connected for swinging movement toward each other, said parts being disposed, respectively, at opposite sides of the casing and each part having lugs thereon engaged behind the stop shoulders of the casing; and a llat follower plate interposed between said plunger and cushioning means and bearing on said parts of the plunger to hold the same in flattened transverse alignment, said follower plate and plunger having interengaging lugs and sockets and said plate having flanges engaging the walls of the casing to keep the plunger centered in said open end of the casing.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing open at one end and having interior stop shoulders at said open end at opposite sides thereof; of cushioning means within the casing; a two-part sectional plunger loosely tted in the open end of the casing, having The keys are then withthe sections thereof hingedly connected to each other at their inner ends, said sections being swingable toward each other to laterally contract said plunger; laterally projecting lugs on each of said sections, said lugs being engaged behind the stop shoulders of the casing when said plunger is in expanded condition with the sections thereof llattened out; flat stop shoulders on said sections engageable with each other to restrict swinging movement of said sections away from each other; and a flat follower plate interposed between said plunger and cushioning means and bearing on said plunger to hold the sections thereof flattened out, said follower plate and plunger having interengaging lugs and sockets and said plate having llanges engaging the walls of the casing to keep the plunger centered in said open end of the casing.

3. ln a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing open at one end and having interior stop shoulders on opposite sides of the open end thereof; of cushioning means within the casing; a two-part sectional plunger, the sections of the same being hinged to each other at `their inner opposed sides for swinging movement toward each other to laterally contract said plunger; outwardly projecting lugs on each section engagcable behind the stop shoulders of the casing when said plunger is in expanded condition with the sections thereof flattened out; and a at follower plate interposed between said plunger and cushioning means, and bearing on said plunger, said follower plate hav-ing llat bearing engagement with said sections of the plunger to hold the sections thereof in ilattened condition, said follower plate and plunger having interengaging projections and seats for locking said plunger in expanded condition.

4. .In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing open at one end and having interior stop shoulders on opposite sides of the open end thereof; of cushioning means within the casing; a two-part sectional plunger, the sections of the same being hinged to each other at their inner opposed sides for swinging movement toward each other to laterally contract said plunger; outwardly projecting lugs on each section engageable behind the stop shoulders of the casing when said plunger is in expanded condition with the sections thereof flattened out; and a flat follower plate interposed between said plunger and cushioning means, and bearing on said plunger, said follower plate hav-ing flat bearing engagement with said sections of the plunger to hold the sections thereof in ilattened condition, said follower plate having a ller projection thereon engageable between the sections of the plunger for locking the plunger in spread apart condition.

5. ,In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing open at one end and having interior stop shoulders at said open end at opposite sides thereof; of cushioning means within the cas-ing; a two-part, lengthwise divided, sectional actuating plunger, the sections of said plunger having hinge eyes at the inner sides thereof; a hinge pin engaged through said eyes for pivotally connecting said sections for yswinging movement toward each other to make said plunger laterally contractible; lugs on each section of the plunger engaged behind the stop shoulders at the corresponding side of the casing; and a follower plate interposed between said plunger and cushioning means, and having ilat bearing engagement with the rea-r. ends of the sections of Isa-id plunger to hold said sections flattened out and said plunger in expanded condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

